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By Marianne David
Blazing a trail in oceanic farming, Oceanpick on Saturday, 22 February, 
stocked the first sea cages in Sri Lanka with barramundi juveniles.
Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dr. Rajitha Senaratne introduced the initial batch into a pen on Saturday afternoon in Trincomalee, kicking off Sri Lanka’s accessibility to premium quality, responsibly-farmed marine fish.
“This is a very good project and we are supporting it. It is a foreign collaboration with an investment of US$ 4 million. Sri Lanka has not utilised its ocean resources properly, especially during the war. Now we are completely free to do so,” said Senaratne.
Revealing that the fisheries industry has grown in recent years, with production at 515,000 MT from 339,000 MT in 2009, the Minister asserted that if allocations for the industry were raised, it would be able to generate the same foreign exchange as the tourism industry (see box).
Oceanpick, a BOI-approved company headed by Founder/Director Irfan Thassim, commenced its journey in 2011, focusing on producing top notch marine fish using Sri Lanka’s pristine seas. It follows Scottish standards adhered to by its joint venture partner, Kames Fish Farming, and its entire cage structure was shipped in from the UK to ensure highest standards.
“This is a modern, high technology project, introducing new technology to aquaculture,” said Senaratne, after releasing the first batch of barramundi juveniles. “It is a very unique project that can be improved with more cages and hatcheries in the future. Sea bass is a very good product and the fisheries industry is a quick money earning industry.”
Noting that the quota system would be introduced to the Indian Ocean soon, thus limiting fishing, Senaratne pointed out that aquaculture has no limitations.
Utilising the vast ocean resource instead of pressuring wild fish into extinction, Oceanpick farms barramundi in open seas in a responsible manner. The company has carried out extensive studies to assess the sea, seabed and other organism conditions in choosing locations and extensive modelling was undertaken to assess how proposed farming activity would impact the surrounding environment.
Addressing the gathering in Trincomalee on Saturday, Thassim said Oceanpick had created history by launching sea cages. “Three years ago when I wanted to start a new venture, I realised that we have a huge resource in the form of the ocean. I took a trip to Europe and visited a salmon farm. It was love at first sight and I wanted to try it in Sri Lanka,” recalled Thassim.
Despite many obstacles along the way and a two-and-a-half year gap between coming up with the concept and putting the first fish into the cages, Thassim said the venture was a victory for the country in general and the fishing industry in particular.
The venture is poised to raise the profile of the country’s fishery sector and help reach production targets set by Senaratne. In the backdrop of rising wild capture production after the end of the civil war, Oceanpick is looking at reaching a more sustainable equilibrium between wild capture and farmed output.
“I hope that others follow in Oceanpick’s footsteps and follow the same principle of doing it right,” Thassim asserted.
The first phase of the Oceanpick project comprises a US$ 4 million investment and the company’s nursery now contains barramundi fry, also called Asian sea bass and locally known as modha. The cages were stocked on Saturday from this first batch, following several weeks in the nursery in preparation for transfer.
Oceanpick plans to widen its portfolio to several other species shortly and expects a supreme product range, given the superiority of fish grown in the clear blue seas off Trincomalee with its tidal currents and flushing rates.
The company will also ensure uncompromising attention to detail on the cold chain and distribution front, where fish harvest will occur primarily when ready for consumption and peak freshness will be maintained until it reaches the consumer. Oceanpick’s first harvest is scheduled to take place at the end of the year.
Renowned chefs from top hotels in the country joined Oceanpick on Saturday, among them Waters Edge General Manager Bocuse d’Or Sri Lanka Chapter President Rohan Fernandopulle (former Executive Chef – Hilton Colombo), Bocuse d’Or Sri Lanka Official Coach Chef Alan Palmer, Citrus Wasakduwa Beach Resort Executive Assistant Manager – Food and Beverage C. Sudusinghe (former Executive Chef – Cinnamon Grand), The Kingsbury Executive Chef Kithsiri De Silva and Michelin Star Chef Roland Debuyst from Belgium, while Heritance Kandalama’s Chef De Cuisine Chef W.M. Augustus Lowe and Sous Chef Chamara conducted a sea bass cookery demonstration in the afternoon.
Pix by Nirmala Dhananjaya
Fisheries industry gears up for good timesSri Lanka’s fisheries industry is growing rapidly, with production now reaching 515,000 MT from 339,000 MT in 2009.
Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Dr. Rajitha Senaratne is confident that if allocations for the industry are raised, it will be able to generate the same foreign exchange as the tourism industry.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Oceanpick event on Saturday in Trincomalee, he said: “Without GSP, exports have risen by 39%. Fish imports have dropped by 17%. Dry fish imports have reduced by 26%. Maldive fish imports reduced by 44% last year. Fisheries is one of the most successful projects under Divi Neguma.”
Aquaculture has reached 60,000 MT, up from 48,000 MT in 2009; and the number of fisheries vessels has risen to 63,000 today from 49,000 in 2009, while multiday boats now number 4,200 from 2,800 in 2009.
There are 221,000 active fishermen in the country at present, up from 170,000 in 2009 and imports have also dropped significantly as a result of positive developments in the industry.
Senaratne asserted that the rise in consumption will also lead to the elimination of malnutrition once Sri Lanka reaches the target of 60g per day. Consumption currently stands at 40g per day, up from 22.8g.
The key issues facing the industry as it gears up for further growth are poaching by Indian fishermen, the resultant destruction of the seabed and the use of illegal fishing gear.
The Minister revealed that Indian fishermen poach Rs. 95 billion worth of fish from Sri Lankan waters each year, while they also destroy the seabed due to bottom crawling, which is banned in Sri Lanka.
To combat the use of illegal gear, the Ministry carries out raids regularly, which has contributed to increased fish production, with a significant rise in production of sprats, salaya and hurulla varieties.
Outlining plans on dealing with poaching, the Minister said a grace period of one month has been given at present. “I don’t accept Jayalalithaa Jeyaram’s ‘traditional waters’ stance; I only accept international maritime boundaries. They have no right to cross into our waters. The Indian Central Government is completely sympathetic to us and they agree with us.’
While arrests and confiscation of Indian boats and gear are being carried out, Senaratne says it is impossible to nab all the poachers. “They send thousands of boats and we can’t catch them all. It used to be around 800 boats per day; now it has dropped to around 200 per day and they no longer come as close as they used to. The northern fishermen are very happy about this,” he added.
Senaratne noted that the contribution from the north and east has helped the industry and the Ministry has reached out by distributing boats and fishing gear to fishermen there, in addition to setting up hatcheries in those provinces.
Before the war, the north contributed 43% of national production, while the east contributed 15.5%. Eastern contribution is now at 23% while by end 2012 the north contributed 18% to national production.
Sea cucumber, seaweed, and oyster production have been introduced as additional measures to uplift the industry, in addition to an increased focus on crab.
Apart from its vast ocean resources, Sri Lanka also has 308,000 hectares of water inside the country and 160,000 hectares of lagoon water. |
Oceanpick to create benchmark for sustainable marine aquacultureExperienced marine fish farmer Owen Stevens, who has been involved in the marine aquaculture industry for around 20 years working in over 20 countries across the world, is part of Oceanpick’s management team as its General Manager.
According to Stevens, it takes a number of elements to create a successful mariculture industry, from the right amount of infrastructure, the correct technological approach and the transport network, to support from the government and various agencies and the right legal framework even to begin.
Addressing the gathering on Saturday, he said it was also critical to have a blend of the right type of marine sites with adequate depth and current and the right environmental parameters, the correct range of water temperature, water quality, weather patterns and so on.
Furthermore, he said it was critical to have the right investment climate since aquaculture is not without its risks and requires a good deal of capital to get started. Above all else, he emphasised it requires good people – talented, well-educated and hardworking people – and a lot of them are needed to get this kind of industry off the ground.
“Sri Lanka has all this and more. It is rare to find such potential, all in one place. Indeed my biggest surprise in coming here was to find out that a significant marine aquaculture industry wasn’t already in place. Given the right stimulus, Sri Lanka has the potential to be a major player in global seafood production and a powerhouse in the marine aquaculture sector,” he asserted.
While acknowledging that being a primary mover in the marine farming business has its advantages, Stevens said it also comes with a lot of responsibility. “We know we will set the benchmark for the industry as it moves forward. It is our responsibility to incorporate lessons learnt in other countries and sectors and to hold ourselves accountable to the highest environmental standards that are available worldwide. It is our responsibility to ensure this industry develops in sympathy with our surrounding environment.”
Stevens emphasised that Oceanpick’s goal is to create the benchmark for as sustainable an industry as possible. |
